Dispensing apparatus



y 1968 E. .1. SUMMERSBY 3,384,280

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l Avvi/wraz femur 754 fawn/25a 66% LM/MKM y 21, 1968 E. J. SUMMERSBY DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1966 1968 E. J. SUMMERSBY 3,384,280

I DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1963 E. .J. SUMMERSBY 3,384,280

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent-O 3,384,280 DISPENSING APPARATUS Ernest John Summersby, Lawndale, Calif., assignor to 1 Mirra-Cote Company, Inc., Segundo, Calif., a corporation, of California Filed July 18, 1966, Ser. No. 565,888

Claims. (Cl. 225-23) j The present invention relates generally to power-operated dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to power-operated apparatus for advancing a webof material, such as plastic wrap or film, metallic'foil or waxed paper, from a supply roll enclosed within the apparatus, and for automatically locking the web in position after a predetermined length thereof has been advanced from the roll, to thereby facilitate the tearing of the predetermined length of material from the roll.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved power-operated dispensing apparatus for a roll of material, such as plastic wrap or film, metallic foil or paper.

Another object is the provision of new and improved power-operated dispensing apparatus for a roll of niaterial, which is mountable within an enclosing housing adapted to support the material roll, the housing being so constructed as to be easily mounted on a stand of any desired configuration, or mounted on or suspended from any suitable type of supporting means, suchas a kitchen cabinet or the like.

A further object is to provide new and improved apparatus for dispensing a 'web of material from a roll, which is so constructed as to enable the easy replacement of a roll and to facilitate the initial advancement 'ofthe material web therefrom.

An additional object is the provision of new'and improved power-operated apparatus'for advancing a web of material from a supply roll, which is so constructed as to automatically grip the material web after' a predetermined amount thereof has been advanced from the roll, to thereby facilitate the tearing of the predetermined material strip from the roll.

Still another object of this invention is to providenovel dispensing apparatus for a roll of material, which comprises a cutting blade for enabling the material to be severed from the roll after it has been advanced therefrom, and new and improved shielding means for the cutting blade, which is operable to shield theblade during advancement of the material from the roll or during replacement of a roll within the instant apparatus, and to automatically expose the blade after a desired amount of material has been advanced from the roll and locked in position, to thereby facilitate tearing of the material from the roll. a

A still further'object is the provision of new and improved material dispensing apparatus which is incorporated within an enclosing housing having a door movably mounted thereon, the door being movable to an open position during advancement ofmaterial from the apparatus, and to a closed position after a desired amount of material has been advanced, the material advancement and door operation being effected by a single manually operable lever that is easily grippable from the exterior of the housing. Yet another object is the provision of new and improved dispensing apparatus for a roll of material, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, compact, self-mounting, reliable in operation, easy to repair and operate, and attractive in appearance.

In order to accomplish the above objects, the dispensing apparatus of the present invention comprises a cabinet for freely supporting a material supply roll and having a door pivotally mounted on the front portion there- 3,384,280 Patented May 21, 1968 of. A drive roll is rotatably mounted in the front portion of the cabinet and is adapted to be selectively driven by a motor that is energizable by a suitable power source, such as one or more batteries removably mounted within the cabinet, or a normal commercial power supply. An idler roll is'rotatably and slidably mounted on the cabinet door and is adapted to be spring-biased into engagernent with the drive roll when the door is in closed and feed positions. The door comprises a serrated cutter member at its lower end, and a stripper member slidably mounted thereon and operatively associated with the idler roll so as to be controlled by movement of the latter. A

coupler mechanism is operatively associated withthe drive roll and the cabinet door, and is provided with a lever or handle member on the outer front portion of the cabinet to provide for selective manual actuation of the power means for the drive roll and associated opening or closing of the door.

The relationship between the drive roll and the idler roll mounted on the door is such that engagement of these rolls serves to assist in maintaining the door in a closed position and to move the stripper to a position wherein it exposes the serrated edge of the cutter member. When the door is opened in response to actuation of the power means, eifected by movement of the handle member, spring means serve to move both the idler roll and the stripper member downwardly to strip the cutter member and to shield its serrated edge while the door is open, thereby preventing injury to the user of the apparatus.

The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the coupler mechanism of the instant apparatus, which serves to operatively associate the power means with the drive roll and with the manually operable handle member located on the exterior of the cabinet;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken sub stantially along line 3-3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 3, showing the door of the instant apparatus in a closed position wherein the leading portion of the material is locked between the idler roll and the drive roll;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing the door in a partially open position during the driving of the drive roll and the advancement of the material from the supply roll;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, showing the door as it is being moved to a fully open position for the replacement of a roll in the instant apparatus;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of FIGURE 3, showing the manually operable handle member in an off or non-dispensing position wherein the circuit for the drive roll motor is open;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, with parts broken away, showing the handle member in an on or material-dispensing position wherein an electric circuit is closed between the power means and the driving motor for the drive roll;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8, with partsbroken away, showing the handle member in a fully down or unloading position wherein the drive roll motor is not being energized and the door may be fully opened for the replacement of a roll in the instant apparatus; and

FIGURE is a fragmentary, diagrammatic View showing the circuit between the batteries, electric drive motor and switch arm of the instant apparatus, and the gearing mechanism between the electric motor and the drive roll.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIGURES 1 and 4 illustrate a power-operated apparatus for advancing a web 22 of material, such as Wax paper, foil or plastic wrap, from a supply roll 24 resting on the base panel 26 of an enclosing housing 28 for the apparatus. The housing is supported in an elevated position on the base portions 30 of a supporting frame 32 having a pair of upstanding bracing portions 34 that are secured to a cover 36 for the housing in any suitable manner, such as by bolts 38 extending through apertures in the cover member 36.

It is noted that the housing 28 may be supported in any suitable manner, other than on the stand 32. The cover member 36 may be rem-ovably mounted on the housing 28 in a manner such that the apertures therein face upwardly rather than rearwardly, thereby enabling the housing to be secured to the undersurface of a support member, such as a wall cabinet, by screws extending through the apertures in the cover member 36.

As further illustrated in FIGURE 4, the material supply roll 24 is enclosed within the housing 28 and freely rests on the base panel 26 thereof. The material web 22 of the roll 24 is advanced between a generally horizontally extending drive roll 44, which is rotatably mounted on the housing 28 and selectively rotatable in a manner to be more specifically described hereinafter, and an idler roll 46 which is rotatably mounted on a frame 48 mounted for s'lidab'le movement on a door 50 that is hingedly mounted on the housing 28. As shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, the door 50 is hingedly mounted about a substantially horizontal axis 51 for vertical opening and closing movement relative to the front portion of the housing 28. Both the housing 28 and the door 50 may be for-med of any suitable material, such as a lightweight and sturdy plastic or metal.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, the drive roll 44 preferably comprises a plurality of hollow cylindrical plastic sections 52 that are rigidly secured together in any suitable manner and provided with serrated outer surfaces 54 for frictionally gripping the web 22 without damaging it. A plurality of annular channels 55 are provided in the drive roll 44 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The section 52 adjacent a first end of the drive roll 44 is rotatably mounted on a laterally extending portion 56 on a first door cam 58 that is, in turn, rotatably mounted on a projection 60 formed integral with the adjacent side wall 62 of the housing 28. The first door cam 58 is rigidly secured to one end of an elongated, curved separator member 64 which is connected at its other end to a second door cam 66 of substantially the same construction as the first door cam 58. The second door cam 66 is provided with a hub portion 68 that extends laterally through an aperture in an interior panel 70 of the housing 28 and is rotatably mounted on a hollow shaft 72 that is rigidly secured to the adjacent section 52 at a second end of the drive roll 44. From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that the drive roll 44 is rotatable relative to the housing 28 and the door cams 58 and 66, and that the door cams are rotatable relative to both the housing 28 and the drive roll 44.

The hub portion 68 of the second door cam 66 extends into and is secured to the hub portion 74 of an actuator member 76 having a curved outer wall 78 and a manually grippable handle portion 80' extending outwardly therefrom through an aperture in the front portion of the housing 28 (see FIGURES 1 and 2). It will be understood, therefore, that the actuator member 76, the door cams 58, 66 and the separator- 64 are commonly rotatable as a unit.

Disposed, .within the actuator member 76 and rigidly secured'to the shaft 72, is a gear member 82 which is driven through a suitable gearing arrangement 84, 86 and 88 by the output shaft 90 of an electric motor 92, which is of any suitable construction and mounted in any suitable manner within the housing 28 (see FIGURES 2, 7 and 10). The motor 92 is electrically connected to a suitable power source, such as a pair of batteries 94 and 96 through a pair of conductors 98 and 100. The batteries 94 and 96 are supported on an interior horizontal housing panel 102 disposed above the motor 92. A pair of resilient clips 104 and 106, formed of any suitable conducting material, are adapted to engage the terminals of the batteries 94 and 96, respectively, for the purpose of retaining the batteries in position on the panel 102 (see FIGURE 7). The resilient clip 104 connects the terminal of the battery 94 with the base of the battery 96, while the clip 106 connects the terminal of the battery 96 with the conductor 98.

In order to complete the circuit between the batteries 94, 96 and the motor 92, the conductor is connected to one end of a resilient switch arm 108 that is secured to an interior member 110 mounted on the housing 28. The switch arm 108 is provided with an upstanding contact portion 112 at its opposite end which is adapted to contact the base of the battery 94 through an aperture 114 in the housing panel 102, when the switch arm 108 is deformed upwardly (see FIGURE 8). It will be readily seen, therefore, that when the contact portion 112 of the switch arm 108 engages the base of the battery 94, an electric circuit is completed between the batteries 94, 96 and the motor 92, thereby. energizing the latter and rotatably driving the shaft 72 and drive roll 44 secured thereto in a material dispensing direction, through the gearing arrangement 82 through 88.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the resiliency of the switch arm '108 normally maintains it in a position wherein its contact portion 112 is out of engagement with the base of the battery 94, to thus interrupt the circuit between the batteries 94, 96 and the motor 92. For the purpose of enabling the circuit to be selectively closed by the deformation of the switch arm 108 and engagement of its contact portion 112 with the battery 94, a switch-operating cam member 116 is rotatably mounted on the hollow shaft 72 adjacent the gear member 82. An end plug 117 serves to retain the cam member 116 and gear 82 on the shaft 72. The cam member 116 comprises a hub portion 118 surrounding the shaft 72 and a rearwardly extending projection 120 which is adapted to engage :1 depending insulating arm 122 secured to the free end of the switch arm 108 for the purpose of deforming the latter upwardly into a circuit-closing position. A torsion spring 124 surrounds the hub 118 and has one end disposed in engagement with the housing base panel 26 and the other end in engagement with the projection 120 to normally bias the cam member 116 in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIG- URE 7) out of engagement with the depending insulating portion 122 of the switch arm 108, thereby leaving the switch arm in a circuit-opening position wherein its contact portion 112 is out of engagement with the base of the battery 94.

The cam member 116 further comprises a radial flange portion 126 which merges outwardly with a curved exterior wall 128 that is disposed within the outer wall 78 of the actuator member 76. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 7, the flange portion 126 and outer wall 128 are provided with a laterally extending slot 130 which is in radial alignment with a corresponding lateral slot 132 in the outer wall 78 of the actuator member 76. The manually grippable handle portion 80 on the actuator member 76 comprises an elongated slot 134 in alignment with the slots 130, 132 and having a key 136 slidably mounted therewithin. The key 136 is provided with an extension 138 on its inner end which is adapted to extend through the slots 130 and 132 of the cam member 116 and actuator member 76, respectively, for the purpose of mechanically connecting these members together for common rotation about the shaft 72 (seeFIGURE 2). The inner movement of the key 136 in the handle slot 134 is limited by engagement of its inner surface 140 with the outer wall 78 of the actuator member 76, and the outer movement of the key 136 in the handle slot 134 is limitedby a pin (not shown) or other suitable means mounted within the handle slot and extending upwardly through an elongated center slot 142 in the key 136. I

The key 136, therefore, serves to mechanically connect the actuator member 76 and the cam member 116 for common rotation when it is disposed in its'inner position, wherein its extension 138 extends into the cam member slot 130. When the key 136 is in its inner position, the torsion spring 124 serves to urge boththe cam member 116 and the actuator member 76 in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIGURES 2 and 7), to thus normally maintain the handle portion 80 of the actuator member 76 in an upper position in engagement with the adjacent portion of the housing 28 (see FIGURE 7). When the handle member 80 is pushed downwardly, with the key, 136 in its inner position, both the actuator member 76 and the cam member 116 are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction against the force of the spring 124, with the result that the projection 120 on the cam member 116 engages the insulating portion 122 of the switch arm 108 to deform the latter upwardly and bring its contact portion 112 in engagement with the base of the battery 94, thereby closing a circuit between the batteries 94, 96 and the motor 92 to energize the latter and effect counter-clockwise or material-dispensing rotation of the drive roll 44 (see FIGURES 5 and 8).

When the key 136 is manually pulled outwardly to its outer position in the slot 134 of the handle portion 80, its extension 138 is moved out of the slot 130 in the cam member 116, to thereby enable the actuator member 76 to be rotated freely of the cam member 116. Thereafter, the actuator member 76 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 7) without effecting movement of the switch arm 108 to a circuit-closing position, as shown in FIGURE 9. 7

Referring now to FIGURES 3 through 6, the frame 48 on which the idler roll 46 is rotatably mounted, is provided with a generally laterally extending upper panel 144 having a plurality of upstanding pins 146 thereon which extend upwardly through and are slidably mounted within apertures in a rearwardly extending flange 148 rigidly secured to the inner surface of the housing door 50. A coil spring 150 surrounds each of the pins 146 and is in engagement with the panel 144 and the lower end of a sleeve 149 surrounding the upper end of each pin 146, to normally bias the frame 48 downwardly away from the door flange 148.

The frame 48 further comprises a depending stripper panel 154 which is substantially perpendicular to the upper panel 144 and is in slidable engagement with the interior surface of the housing door 50. The lower end of the stripper panel 154 serves as a combined stripper and shielding member 156 which may be of any suitable construction and is in slidable engagement-with the interior surface of an elongated cutting blade 158 that is rigidly secured to the lower inner surface of the door 50 and has a serrated cutting edge 160 extending downwardly from the door 50. The stripper panel 154 is slidably retained on the inner surface of the housing door 50 by flanged retainer members 161 that extend through vertical slots 163 in the panel 154 and are mounted on inwardly extending pins 165 having swaged inner ends. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6', the coil springs 150 normally urge the frame 48 and stripper panel 154 mounted thereon downwardly into a position wherein the lower end 156 of the stripper panel 154shields the cutting blade 160, when the door 50 is in an open position relative to the front portion of the housing 28.

The end portions of the frame 48, on which the idler roll 46 is rotatably mounted, are provided with projections 162 and 164 that are adapted to be received in upwardly opening slots 166 and 168 in raised portions of the door cams 58 and 66, respectively (see FIGURE 2). Rotation of the door earns 58 and 66, therefore, results in corresponding opening and closing movement of the door relative to the front portion of the housing 28, owing to the operative association of the frame extensions 162 and 164 and the door cams. Since the door cams 58, 66, the separator member 64 and the actuator member 76 are secured together for common rotation relative to the shaft 72 and the drive roll 44, rotation of the actuator member 76, induced by manual movement of its handle portion 80, results in rotation of the door cams and opening or closing movement of the door 50. From the foregoing description, it will be readily understood that manual movement of the handle 80, with the key member 136 in its inner position, will effect substantially simultaneous operation of the drive roll 44, through circuitclosing movement of the switch arm 108, and opening of the door 50, owing to counter-clockwise rotation of the door cams (sse FIGURES 4, 5, 7 and 8).

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the idler roll 46 has a plurality of flexible and resilient, annular pressure members 170 removably mounted thereon in substantially equally spaced relation. The annular members 170 preferably are formed of a suitable material, such as rubber or a synthetic equivalent thereof, and cooperate with the serrated exterior surfaces 54 of the drive roll sections 52 to firmly grip the material web 22 therebetween for the purpose of preventing the web from slipping. It is noted, however, that the idler roll 46 could be constructed in any other suitable manner, without departing from the spirit or scope of the instant invention.

When the door St) is in a closed position on the housing 28, as shown in' FIGURE 4, it is noted that the longitudinal axis or axis of rotation of the idler roll 46 is disposed inwardly (or to the right as shown in FIGURE 4) of a line or axis A extending between the hinge axis 51 of the door 50 and the axis of rotation 174 of the drive roll 44. The Springs 150 exerting a downward force on the movable idler and stripper-supporting frame 48, therefore, serve to urge the idler roll 46 rearwardly (or to the right as seen in FIGURE 4) on the drive roll 44, there by urging the door 50 to a closed position. With the door 50 in a closed position, the frame 48 is dispose-d in an upper position to compress the springs 150 and to expose the serrated edge 160 of the cutting blade 154, which is disposed adjacent to an upstanding material web-supporting front wall section 176 of the housing 28. The front wall section 176 is provided with a plurality of upwardly and rearwardly extending stripping fingers 177 that extend into the annular channels of the drive roll 44 for the purpose of stripping material from the drive roll (see FIGURES 3 through 6).

In the operation of the instant material dispensing apparatus 20, it will be understood that, when the handle portion of the actuator member 76 is in its upper position, as shown in FIGURE 7, the door 50 is in a closed position on the housing 28, and the idler roll 46 is urged into engagement with the drive roll 44 by the coil springs to thereby maintain the door in its closed position in the manner decribed above. Since the engagement of the idler roll 46 with the drive roll 44 moves the frame 48 upwardly against the force of the springs 150, the stripper and shielding end 156 of panel 154, slidably mounted on the door 50, is also moved upwardly to expose the serrated edge of the cutting blade 158 mounted on the lower portion of the door 50. The leading portion of the material web 22, therefore, is tightly gripped between the idler roll and the drive roll, and also is engaged between the serrated cutting edge 160 and the upper portion of the front wall section 176 of the housing 28.

When it is desired to advance the material web 22 from the roll 24, the handle portion 80 of the actuator member 76 is manually moved downwardly (or rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 7), with the key 36 in its inner position wherein it connects the actuator member 76 and the switch-operating cam memher 116, to rotate the extension 120 on the cam member 116 upwardly into engagement with the depending insulatin'g portion 122 of the switch arm 108, thereby deforming the latter upwardly until its contact portion 112 engages the base of the battery 94 to close a circuit between the batteries 94, 96 and the motor 92 (see FIG- URES 8 and 10). The energization of the motor 92 results in rotation of the drive roll 44 in a counter-clockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 4), through the gearing arrangement 82 through 88, to thereby advance the leading portion of the material web 22 between the drive roll 44 and the idler roll 46.

The downward movement of the handle portion of the actuator member 76 also effects opening movement of the door 50, preferably just prior to the energization of the motor 92 and rotation of the drive roll 44. Since the door cams 58 and 66 are secured to the actuator member 76' for rotation therewith, counter-clockwise rotation of the latter, induced by downward movement of the handle portion 80, results in similar counter-clockwise rotation of the door cams from the position shown in FIGURE 4 to that shown in FIGURE 5, whereby the door is pivoted outwardly by the engagement of the door cams with the extensions 162 and 164 on the idler roll and stripper member-supporting frame 48 mounted on the door 50. This opening movement of the door 50 results in a downward movement of the frame 48 by the coil springs 150 to thereby move the stripped end 156 of the panel 154 downwardly beneath the serrated cutting edge 160 of the cutting blade 158. This downward movement of the end 156 serves to shield the cutting edge 160 while the door is open and to strip any material accumulating on the cutting blade.

The idler roll 46 is maintained in engagement with the drive roll 44, during opening movement of the door, by the coil springs 150, although with less force than when the door was closed, owing to a smaller amount of compression of the springs 150 when the door is open. The movement of the idler roll 46 along the drive roll 44, just prior to advancing rotation of the latter, serves to initiate the movement of the leading portion of the material web 22 in a dispensing direction and to remove any creases or wrinkles in the web prior to dispensing rotation of the drive roll.

It will be readily seen, therefore, that with the handle member in the position shown in FIGURE 8, wherein the key 136 is in its inner position, the drive roll 44 is being rotated to advance the material web 22 and the door 50 is in an open position relative to the housing 28 to enable the web to be advanced out of the front portion of the housing (see FIGURE 5). As shown in FIGURE 8, the downward movement of the handle 80, with the key 136 in its inner position, is limited by the engagement of the cam extension with the adjacent portion of the spring arm 168, when the contact portion 112 of the latter engages the base of the battery 94.

When a desired length of material web 22 has been advanced out of the housing 23, the handle 80 is released and is returned to its upper position by the force of the torsion spring 124 which urges the cam member 116 and, thus, the actuator member 76 in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 7). This clockwise rotation of the actuator member 76 results in a like rotation of the door cams 58 and 66 from the position shown in FIGURE 5 to that shown in FIGURE 4, thereby moving the door 50 to a closed position in which it is maintained by the coil springs 159 in the manner described above. With the door 50 in this closed position, the material Web 22 is tightly engaged between the idler roll 46 and the drive roll 44 and is also engaged by the serrated cutting edge 160 of the cutting member 158, which has been exposed by the upward movement of the frame 48 and stripper panel 154 against the force of the springs during closing movement of the door. The user may then grasp the portion of the material web extending out of the front portion of the housing and pull it upwardly against the serrated cutting edge to thereby easily separate it from the material within the housing 28.

When it is desired to replace the roll 24 in the housing 28, the key 136 is pulled outwardly to a position wherein its extension 138 is removed from the slot 130 in the cam member 116 (see FIGURES 2 and 9), thereby enabling the actuator member 76 to be rotated independently of the cam member 116, as hereinbefore described. The handle member 80 may then be moved downwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 7 to that shown in FIG- URE 9, wherein the door cams 58 and 66 are rotated to the position shown in FIGURE 6. In this position, the slots 166 and 168 in the door cams 58 and 66, respectively, are so disposed as to enable the extensions 162 and 164 to be removed therefrom. The door 50, therefore, may be pivoted upwardly on its hinge axis 51 to a fully open position wherein the used material roll is easily removable from within the housing 28.

After a new roll is placed on the base panel 26 of the housing, the leading portion of the material web is pulled over the drive roll 44 and extended outwardly of the front wall section 176 of the housing 28, Thereafter, the door 50 is closed so that the frame extensions 162 and 164 are again disposed within the door cam slots 166 and 168, respectively. The handle portion 80 may then be moved upwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 9 to that shown in FIGURE 7, whereby the door 50 is again moved to the closed position of FIGURE 4, owing to clockwise rotation of the actuator member 76 and the door cams 58 and 66 secured thereto. When the key 136 is again pushed into the slot 130 of the cam member 116, the handle portion 80 may then be manually depressed to again effect advancement of the material web 22 from the new roll in the manner described above.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing description that the instant material dispensing apparatus 20 enables a web of material to be readily advanced from a supply roll disposed wholly within a housing, by manipulation of a single handle portion disposed on the outer portion of the housing. The construction and operation of the instant apparatus also provides for the easy replacement of a used roll by a new roll, from which material may be readily and easily advanced, without requiring a complicated or time-consuming threading procedure.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing a roll of sheet material, comprising:

a housing enclosing said roll and having a dispensing opening therein,

a door movably mounted on said housing for opening and closing said dispensing opening,

a drive roll rotatably mounted within said housing adjacent said dispensing opening,

an idler roll rotatably mounted on the inner surface of said door and adapted to engage the leading portion of said sheet material and press it into engagement with said drive roll when said door is in closed and partially open positions,

power means mounted within said housing for rotating said drive roll in a material dispensing direction, means for moving said door on said housing, and manually operable control means operatively associated with said power means and said door moving means,

said control means being adapted to partially open said door and to energize said power means for rotating said drive roll and advancing said sheet 1 material when manually operated in a predetermined manner.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a frame is slidably mounted on said inner door surface for generally vertical movement toward and away from said drive roll, said idler roll is rotatably mounted on said frame, and spring means are provided for urging said frame and said idler roll downwardly toward said drive roll,

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said door is pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end on said housing, and wherein said idler roll is so mounted on said frame that its axis of rotation is disposed inwardly of a straight line extending between the pivotal axis of said door and the axis of rotation of said drive roll when said door is in a closed position, thereby enabling said spring means to aid in maintaining said door in a closed position by urging said idler roll into engagement wtih said drive roll.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a material cutting member is mounted on the inner surface of the lower portion of said door and extends downwardly therefrom, and wherein the lower portion of said frame comprises a stripping and shielding member in slidable engagement with said cutting member, whereby said spring means urge said stripping and shielding member to a position extending beneath said cutting member when said door is in said partially open position, and the engagement of said idler roll and said drive roll urges said frame upwardly against the force of said spring means to move said stripping and shielding member to a position wherein said cutting member is exposed when said door is closed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said door comprises a cam member movably mounted on said housing and connected to said manually operable control means, said cam member having a slot therein, and said door comprising a projection disposed within said slot for movement with said cam member,

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said door comprises a pair of movable cam members disposed on each side of said drive roll and engageable with adjacent portions of said door, said cam members being connected for common movement by an elongated separator member secured thereto and disposed between said drive roll and said material roll.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power means comprises an electric motor, an electrical energy source connected to said motor, and switch means for opening or closing a circuit between said motor and said energy source, said switch means being operable by said manually operable control means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said electrical energy source comprises a battery removably mounted within said housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said manually operable control means comprises a rotatable actuator member having a manually grippable handle, a rotatable cam member adapted to engage and close said switch means, resilient means for normally urging said cam member to a position out of engagement with said switch means, and means for selectively connecting said actuator member to said cam member for rotation therewith.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for connecting said actuator member and said cam member comprises a movable key member, and wherein said actuator member is connected to said door moving means, whereby when said key member is moved to a position wherein said actuator member is not connected to said cam member, said actuator member is rotatable to a position enabling said door to be fully open for the replacement of a material roll within said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,132,782 5/1964 Coates Z2523 JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner, 

1. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A ROLL OF SHEET MATERIAL, COMPRISING: A HOUSING ENCLOSING SAID ROLL AND HAVING A DISPENSING OPENING THEREIN, A DOOR MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID DISPENSING OPENING, A DRIVE ROLL ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID DISPENSING OPENING, AN IDLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID DOOR AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE LEADING PORTION OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL AND PRESS IT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DRIVE ROLL WHEN SAID DOOR IS IN CLOSED AND PARTIALLY OPEN POSITIONS, POWER MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATING SAID DRIVE ROLL IN A MATERIAL DISPENSING DIRECTION, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID DOOR ON SAID HOUSING, AND MANUALLY OPERABLE CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID POWER MEANS AND SAID DOOR MOVING MEANS, SAID CONTROL MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO PARTIALLY OPEN SAID DOOR AND TO ENERGIZE SAID POWER MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DRIVE ROLL AND ADVANCING SAID SHEET MATERIAL WHEN MANUALLY OPERATED IN A PREDETERMINED MANNER. 